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American Dental Education Association


Volume 3, No. 23, December 5, 2023

House Energy and Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Rebuilding Public Trust in the CDC
 
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Oversight And Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing [ [link removed] ] titled “Unmasking Challenges CDC Faces In Rebuilding Public Trust Amid Respiratory Illness Season.”
 
Mandy Cohen, M.D., M.P.H., the new Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), addressed lawmakers, emphasizing the opportunity to regain public trust during the winter cold and flu season. Dr. Cohen stressed the importance of fully funding the CDC for effective reorganization and preparedness against various health threats, whether they are from labs, animals or weapons. A survey in March revealed eroding support for the CDC, with about a quarter of Americans having little trust in the agency's health recommendations.
 
House Republicans questioned Dr. Cohen on her stance regarding school closures, mask mandates and vaccine mandates during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeking to avoid such measures in future emergencies, Dr. Cohen refocused on the CDC’s need to prevent returning to those situations. The mistrust of the CDC, coupled with concerns about potential pandemics, prompted Republicans to consider increased control and oversight, with U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) suggesting a reauthorization process for the agency, whereby certain responsibilities would be curtailed or highly regulated by congressional oversight.
 
Committee members, specifically Republican members, peppered Dr. Cohen with questions about the recently reported uptick in respiratory illness in China. Members wanted to know if this was the beginning of a possible novel virus, like COVID-19 was. They also expressed their concerns about China’s lack of transparency surrounding COVID-19. Dr. Cohen assured the members that the uptick in respiratory illness was not due to a novel virus and noted that this information had been collaborated by CDC’s staff in China, the World Health Organization and the European Union.

4.6 Million People Sign Up for Health Coverage on the ACA Exchanges
 
The 2024 Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace, also known as the ACA Exchange, has experienced strong enrollment, with 4.6 million people selecting plans [ [link removed] ] since the opening of the enrollment period on Nov. 1. This number reflects activity through Nov. 18 for states using HealthCare.gov and through Nov. 11 for states with state-based marketplaces. Of the total plan selections, 20% (920,000 people) are new to the Marketplace for 2024, while 80% (3.7 million people) have active 2023 coverage and have returned to renew or choose a new plan for 2024.
 
Prior to the 2024 open enrollment period, there was a notable increase in Marketplace enrollment during 2023, with around 1.5 million more individuals enrolling nationwide from March to September compared to the same period in 2022.
 
This growth is due to the impact of increased Marketplace efforts to facilitate access to affordable and comprehensive coverage. The data also suggests a transition of individuals from Medicaid coverage as states resume Medicaid and CHIP eligibility renewals after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act has led to lower costs, with four out of five people finding plans on the ACA Marketplace for $10 or less a month, after subsidies are applied.
 
The 2024 open enrollment period runs until Jan. 15, 2024.

North Carolina Launches Medicaid Expansion
 
On Dec. 1, North Carolina officially launched [ [link removed]. ] its Medicaid expansion. The state estimated that nearly 300,000 people would be eligible for the program and that nearly 300,000 were enrolled on day one.
 
The state passed legislation [ [link removed] ] authorizing the expansion in March, and voted to fund [ [link removed] ] the program in September. Individuals and families who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level will be eligible for benefits under the program.

ADEA Advocacy in Action
This appears weekly in the ADEA Advocate to summarize and provide direct links to recent advocacy actions taken by ADEA. Please let us know what you think and how we might improve its usefulness.
 
Issues and Resources
 • ADEA report [ [link removed] ] on teledentistry
 • ADEA report [ [link removed] ] on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Dental Schools
 • ADEA policy brief [ [link removed] ] regarding overprescription of antibiotics
 • For a full list of ADEA memos, briefs and letters click here [ [link removed] ] .

Key Federal Issues [ [link removed] ]

ADEA U.S. Interactive Legislative and Regulatory Tracking Map [ [link removed] ]

Key State Issues [ [link removed] ]

The ADEA Advocate [ [link removed] ] is published weekly. Its purpose is to keep ADEA members abreast of federal and state issues and events of interest to the academic dentistry and the dental and research communities.
 
©2023
American Dental Education Association
655 K Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: 202-289-7201
Website: www.adea.org [ [link removed] ]

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B. Timothy Leeth, CPA
ADEA Chief Advocacy Officer
 
Bridgette DeHart, J.D.
ADEA Director of Federal Relations and Advocacy
 
Phillip Mauller, M.P.S.
ADEA Director of State Relations and Advocacy
 
Varsha Menon
ADEA Program Manager for Advocacy and Government Relations
 
Contact Us:
[email protected] [ mailto:[email protected] ]

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